Feeding the hungry was top of mind with members of the UCKG HelpCentre in Hammersmith during the week of 18-24 September, as this was their annual food bank donation week.

Over the seven days, 103kg of non-perishable food and toiletries were collected, thanks to the generosity of locally based people living close to the HelpCentre in Hammersmith Broadway and from surrounding areas, like Shepherd’s Bush, White City, Ladbroke Grove, Fulham and Barnes.

The donations were all handed over to Stephen Howard, the warehouse manager for the Trussell Trust Food Bank at 67 Studdridge Street, Christ Church, Fulham, by the HelpCentre’s Community Outreach Rep, Carmen Robinson.

Not only did these supplies help to meet the trust’s requirement for tinned meat, vegetables, and rice pud, and for longlife milk and juices, there were also basics including rice and pasta and treats like sesame snacks and hot chocolate, along with shower gels and shampoo.

In expressing his gratitude for the gifts, Stephen said: “There is a growing need…” adding that these items will go a long way in helping to support the families and individuals within the community, who find themselves short of basic essentials and are experiencing financially hard times.

There are many reasons why an individual or a family can fall on hard times, but they certainly should not have to go hungry in modern Britain. However events like an unexpected death and a funeral to pay for or redundancy that reduces a family to one income, with a mortgage still to pay, can tip people over the edge and leave nothing for food. This is where charities like the Trussell Trust and the UCKG come in.

ENDS

Notes to editors

UCKG is a Christian church and registered charity that offers a range of practical support activities alongside spiritual support and comfort. It reached the UK in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength, providing support and spreading the Christian faith through its branches in England and Wales.

The Trussell Trust partners with local communities to help stop UK hunger. Its 400-strong network of foodbanks provides a minimum of three days’emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis. The official website is trusselltrust.org.

For further information please contact the UCKG HelpCentre Press Officer via e-mail on press@uckg.org or direct line 020 7686 6033.